Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 12th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low freezing level in briefly very cold northerly wind: widely gale force Scottish Highlands. A little less windy south into N England and Wales. Hail and snow showers northern and coastal NW Highlands, a few flurries elsewhere, albeit much of upland Britain fine and sunny.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales only slowly easing. Snow and hail showers, mainly east.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 40 to 55mph post dawn easing slowly through daylight to 30 to 45mph, strongest winds in ranges will be Cairngorm plateau east to Deeside.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over higher terrain, frequent buffeting, in places more difficult high Cairngorms. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers north
Occasional snow and hail showers, most frequent Cairngorms eastwards to Deeside. West of A9 and on southern mountains in Cairngorms NP, just a few flurries.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over higher Cairngorms
Banks of cloud drifting across high terrain, mostly above 900m, briefly lower in north in showers, but breaking toward 1100m or above frequently too. Well broken southward, often clearing tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Cairngorm plateau to 70% west of A9 and southern tops in Cairngorms NP
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly southern areas, but breaking through cloud at times in north. Visibility at times excellent, but slight haze north and briefly poor in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Feeling like -15 to -18C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m. Frost widely in glens in morning, all day out of sunlight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 13th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 20 to 30mph, strongest higher Cairngorms both early and late in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect ease of walking on exposed higher terrain, with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry, local flurries
Local brief snow showers in the morning, mainly northern areas, likely fading. Later in the day, a little patchy rain, snow mostly above 800m, may move in from the west, very little reaching the east.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping some tops at times
Patches of cloud may drift over the north Cairngorms early in day, mostly above 900m and likely to disperse. During afternoon, occasional patches may drift over some western upper slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mostly east and southeastern Cairngorms. Visibility mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, perhaps -15C on high Cairngorms at times.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen from dawn with frost all day out of sunlight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 14th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West or southwesterly between 30 and 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasing buffeting and wind chill becoming considerable with increasing height. Expect balance sometimes to be difficult.
How Wet?
Snow now and again
Occasional snow (turning to rain below 600m). mainly or only west of A9 and Ben Alder east to southern summits in Cairngorms NP. Total rainfall small.
Cloud on the hills?
Most higher mountains foggy. Cloud base highest toward Deeside.
Cloud base typically 650 to 900m west of A9 and Ben Alder east to southern summits in Cairngorms NP. Elsewhere, higher base, mostly 1100m or above Northland east from Cairngorm plateau.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine now and again, perhaps sunshine extensive for periods toward Deeside. Mostly good visibility but poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Will feel as cold as minus 13C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Most terrain initially frozen; thawing starting lower slopes as freezing level rises toward 700m.
Planning Outlook
The present extensively dry and often relatively windless weather will end over the next few days as low pressure envelopes Britain. Showery conditions (snow on higher areas) will arrive on western mountains (mainly W & NW Scotland) on Saturday, before the threat of widespread rain - or snow higher areas of the Highlands - on Sunday. There may also be upland gales (although as yet considerable uncertainty for Sunday). Next week, frequent precipitation, low cloud and bouts of upland gales.